4th and 5th Grade Abstract Pattern Designs

To start off a new school year in art Class, fourth and fifth grade artists are getting into their "artist state of mind" by reviewing the Elements of Art.  Students arranged lines, shapes and colors in a repeated and planned way to create abstract patterns.  These bright artworks will decorate the cover of their art sketchbooks, which we use all year long.

Check out all of the amazing designs at Artsonia, our online student museum!

5th Grade: http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?project=985881

4th Grade: http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?project=985870

2nd Grade Kandinsky-inspired Weavings

Second grade artists learned about the Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky and looked closely at his use of line on his abstract artworks.  Then students took a line "for a walk" and created a linear design with a black crayon.  We added textures with texture rubbings after deciding upon a cool color or warm color scheme.  Then we created a loom for weaving by carefully cutting five slits into our papers.   Students began weaving the opposite color scheme into their looms with strips of paper.  Using a white crayon, students added texture to a black piece of construction paper, and glued their paper weavings to this to create a frame.  Last, students added more lines around the border with oil pastels.

1st Grade Abstract Paintings

First Grade art students are learning brush techniques in painting.  Students first learned about the different parts of a paintbrush:

Students practiced just using the "toe" of the bristles to create a very thin line.  Then we practiced painting with the heel and toe, gently pressing down all the bristles to make a really thick line.  Students were amazed that they could paint such different lines with the same brush! After practicing painting different kinds of lines, students then practiced painting large shapes with solid colors.

Next, students tried out painting shapes or lines on top of colors.  It was a fun experiment to see which colors could show up on top of the painted backgrounds. The final touch was adding a few lines around the border, and painting their names.  To see them all, check out our online students art gallery at Artsonia:   http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?exhibit=926366

5th Grade Contour Line Bicycle Drawings

5th Grade artists are studying contour line, and drawing from direct observation a common, everyday object: a bicycle! I brought in my bicycle, and students drew parts of the bicycle using a viewfinder to help them frame their composition.

Contour line can be tricky because you have to look at the object you are drawing more than down at your paper, which is what we automatically want to do.  You are also not supposed to pick up your pencil, instead making a long continuous line, but I allowed students to take their pencils off of the paper, as long as they placed it back on the line when they began drawing again.  I call it "modified contour line."  The view finders can be seen sitting on the tables in the below photo.

                                                     

After practicing at least five contour line drawings of different parts of the bike, students chose two different views of the bike to make into their final watercolor.  To further abstract the work, students are adding imaginary colors to both the positive shapes of the bike, and to the negative spaces behind and around the bike shapes.  Students are also using different brush techniques to add the color.

These are turning out spectacular...I just LOVE the bright colors!  Be sure to look for them in the hallway in April for the School-wide Art Show!

Kinder Jasper Johns Paintings

Kinder students are studying the Pop artist Jasper Johns.  We looked at several of his paintings that included letters and numbers and talked about how you can find letters and numbers everywhere out in the world: signs, buildings, telephones, microwaves, etc.   Students then folded their papers to get a grid, and started drawing numbers or letters.

 Then the most fun part was painting!  Each student added four different colors to each letter or number, which made the works a little more abstract like Johns' style.  We talked about the science of how the water-based paint resists the oil pastel lines and sticks to the paper instead of the letters or numbers.  Check out all of the wonderful finished paintings here at Zilker's Online Museum:  http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?exhibit=766073